Volume 9, Issue 1 (2013)

Analysis of fruit yield and its components in determinate tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersci) using correlation and path coefficient

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Analysis of fruit yield and its components in determinate tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersci) using correlation and path coefficient Monamodi, E. L.; Lungu, D. M; Fite, G.L A field experiment was carried out using six determinate tomatoes at Sebele Agricultural Research Station, during 2010/11 season. The objectives of the experiment were to; (1) determine the correlation among the components that explain variation in tomato yield, (2) determine the direct and indirect effects of the morpho-physiological traits on tomato yield. Data collected were fruit yield, marketable fruit number, single fruit weight, number of trusses per plant, number of fruits per truss, fruit weight per truss, plant height, total soluble solids, fruit dry matter, days to 50% flowering, fruit number per plant, fruit weight per plant and flower number per truss. Yield of Sixpack (control) was 62.4t/ha significantly (P < 0.05) higher from lines, CNL3022F2-154-22-9-3, CNL3022F2-37-29-10-17 and CNL3022F2-154-22-5-5.Yield was positive and significantly (P < 0.001) correlated to marketable fruit number (r = 0.64) and plant height (r =0.52). The relationship between yield and the parameters measured was analysed using stepwise multiple regression. This analysis was used as a bridge leading to path coefficient analysis. Path coefficient analysis results showed that marketable fruit number and single fruit weight were directly related to yield with direct effect of 0.752 and 0.446 respectively. Results obtained suggest that fruit number and single fruit weight are relevant components to use as selection criteria for improving tomato yield. Using correlation coefficients alone would have lead to the erroneous conclusion that single fruit weight is not an important components as its correlation was low and not significant (P > 0.05) at (r =0.30). Article BOJAAS, 2013

Drought and grazing influence on northern Chihuahuan desert rangelands, New Mexico

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Drought and grazing influence on northern Chihuahuan desert rangelands, New Mexico Tshireletso, K.; Beck, R.F; McNeely, R. A short term cattle grazing trial was started in June 1992 in the Chihuahuan Desert in Southern New Mexico to study the influence of drought and grazing on plant responses. Paddocks were grazed in June and September each year except in 1996, 1999 and 2000 because of drought. Summer growing season precipitation was below average 6 of the 9 years of the study. Only 29 mm fell from July through September in 2000, the driest summer. Most herbaceous perennial plants died during the study. Perennial grass basal cover declined from a high near 1.6% in 1992 to 0.4% in 2000. Densities of perennial grasses and forbs decreased from near 50 plants m*2 In 1992 to fewer than 15 plants m2 by 2000. Annual forbs and grasses germinated and grew in response to specific rainfall events regardless of drought conditions. No significant (P> 0.10) year grazing treatment interaction was found for basal cover and density of plants. However, both attributes were significant (P< 0.10) across years. Correlations between grazing treatments and precipitation for plant total cover were significant (P < 0.10) and ranged between 0.75 and 0.87. Loss of plant density and basal cover occurred on both grazed and non-grazed areas during the study, indicating that drought was primarily responsible for any plant changes while grazing effects at the intensities studied were minimal. Article BOJAAS, 2013

The challenges of Ilaje youth in combining education with artisanal fishing: in Ondo State, Nigeria

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

The challenges of Ilaje youth in combining education with artisanal fishing: in Ondo State, Nigeria Fasina., O.O The study examined how llajes in-school youth entrepreneurs combined their education with fishing activities in Ondo State. It examined their personal characteristics, period of involvement and educational activities. Simple random sampling was used to gather data from 63 youth fishers. Data revealed that the respondents were all males and were mostly between the ages of 15 and 18 years (66.7%). Majority (80.5%) were enrolled in formal education. Fishing was done 4-6 times weekly (69.8%), in the mornings (87.3%) and in the evenings (100%). All respondents fished after 3pm in the afternoons while 79.4% did so between 6 and 8 am in the mornings. Studiousness was high (70.5%) on a daily basis. Within a month, 72.1% were never late to school while 75.4% were never absent from school. Respondents combined their fishing entrepreneurship activities in a sustainable manner that did not conflict with their educational activities. Capacity building is recommended to enhance efficiency of the respondents in their entrepreneurship activities. Furthermore, respondents should be offered Investment opportunities in which they could put some portion of their earnings to avoid reckless spending. Another possible opportunity is to encourage them to also form cooperatives to enhance accessibility to improved fishing facilities and credit. Article BOJAAS, 2013

Gross and microanatomical changes at the weight bearing points of ostrich induced by soil or concrete floor and implications for welfare

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Gross and microanatomical changes at the weight bearing points of ostrich induced by soil or concrete floor and implications for welfare Waugh, Esau E.; Seabo, D.; Aganga, A. A.; Dzoma, B.M; Tsopito, Christopher Mareledi; Omphile, U.J.; Sebolai, Boingotlo; Mathaio, M. This study investigated the gross and microanatomical changes occurring at the weight bearing points on the ostrich body surface induced by rearing on soil floor or on concrete floor and the implications for the welfare of the bird. Fourteen ostrich chicks aged nine weeks and raised on concrete were randomly assigned to two rearing groups of seven birds each. The birds (males and females) were raised in a pen 30m x 6m wide with either a soil or a concrete floor. All ostriches were fed a standard commercial ostrich grower diet and watered ad libitum. From week 24 two ostriches from each group were slaughtered each month. Photographic evidence and gross examination demonstrated relatively intact skin with superficial erosion of the keratinized layer at the weight bearing points of the ostriches raised on soil floor. In contrast, ostriches raised on concrete floor had observable erosion on the weight bearing points of the 24 week old ostrich. However, lesions of extreme tissue erosion involving the entire skin were observed in the heavier 36 week old ostrich raised on concrete floor. Qualitative analysis of histology slides of the collected specimens revealed extreme skin erosion deep into the subcutis of the tarso-metatarsal pads of the 36 week old ostrich raised on concrete. However, the degree of skin erosion at similar sites of ostriches raised on soil floor was superficial with the surface keratinized layer still intact. Given the well- developed planter digital cushion, the planter digital skin was not subject to excessive wearing in either group of ostriches. For the welfare of ostriches long term and continuous rearing on concrete surface should be strictly avoided as this practice obviously inflicts pain given the degree of tissue erosion observed especially on the tarsal-metatarsal pad. Article BOJAAS